Step, platform, and door operating mechanism.



0'. W. RAGLAND. STEP, PLATFORM, AND DOOR OPERATING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED IANJ'I, 1910f Y Patented D60. 27, 1910.

' 5 axnnws-sunm 1 THE NORRIS PETERS ca, WASHINGTON, n. c.

c. w. RAGLAND. STEP, PLATFORM, AND DOOR OPERATING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 7, 1910.

Patented Dec. 27, 19 10.

T6075 00-. WASHINGTON, n. c.

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0. W; RAGLAND. 'STEP, PLATFORM, AND DOOR OPERATING MECHANISM.

APPLIOATVION FILED JANJ, 1910.

Patented Dec. 27, 1910.

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THE mum's PETERS cu, WASHINGTON, n c.

0. W. RAGLAND. I $TEP, PLATFORM, AND DOOR OPERATING MECHANISM. APPLICATION IILED JAN. '1, 191.0.

979,886.. Patented Dec,2 7,1910.

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G. W. RAGLAND. STEP, PLATFORM, AND DOOR OPERATING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED'IAN.7, 1910.

- Patented Dec. 27, 1910.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

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wvmto c CHARLES W. RAGLAND,

OF MANCHESTER, VIRGINIA.

STEP, PLATFORM, AND DOOR OPERATING MECHANISM.

Application filed January 7, 1910.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 27, 1910. Serial No. 536,834.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES WV. RAGLANI), a citizen of the United States, residing at Manchester, in the county of Chesterfield, State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Step, Platform, and Door Operating Mechanisms; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to railroad cars and has special reference to a pneumatic step, platform, and door or gate operating mechanism for passenger coaches and street cars.

One object of the invention is to provide a novel mechanism whereby the opening of an air valve will simultaneously place the form section, and open a door leading from said platform section.

Another object of the invention is. to pro vide a novel arrangement of steps for cars of this character which, when not in use, will fold as a unit beneath the car.

A third object of the invention is to provide a novel lock for the door or gate used in connection with this invention, said lock being releasable by the pneumatic means used to operate the mechanism.

A. fourth object of the invent-ion is to provide a novel suspension for the steps of the car which is so arranged that when these steps are in operative position they will be held securely in such position without possibility of collapse, while at the same time they are connected to the operating inechanism in such manner that the opening or closing will be through somewhat resilient means so that the danger of breakage of the steps is thereby eliminated.

lVith the above and other objects in View the invention consists in general of a combined car platform, step and door actuating mechanism of novel character and arranged to simultaneously actuate the parts described.

The invent-ion further consists in certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and specifically set forth in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, like charactors of reference indicate like parts in the several views, and :Figure 1 is a top plan view of a car frame with the mechanism of this invention shown in its reference thereto. Fig. 2 is a slight modification of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1, the view showing the arrangement used for actuating the pla form and gate of a street car. Fig. 3 is a detail in elevation of a portion of a car, the view showing one of the suspending mem-- bers for the steps, the steps being shown in operative position in full lines and in inoperative position in dotted lines. Fig. a is a section on the line 41 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail view of the portion of the mechanism immediately beneath the platform floor, the platform being shown as in operative position in full lines and in inoperative or closed position in dotted lines. Fig. 6 is a view of the inside of a portion of the car vestibule showing the door j amb and lock release employed in connection with this invention. Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail taken at right angles to Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is a modified locking release intended to be used where the door j amb is of sufficient width, the view being a sect-ion through the door and its jamb. Fig. 9 is a view of the inside of a car equipped with this invention, the view showing the piping arrangement and valves for the control of the right and left hand platforms. Fig. 10 is a detail section through one of the valves showing the arrangement thereof, together with the connections of the pipes to the valve caslng. Fig. 11 shows detail views of a form of roller bearing used in connection with this invention- Fig. 12 is a detail view showmg the guides used with certain transverse racks. Fig. 13 is a section through the mechanism of the device on the line 13-13 of Fig. 12.

In the present instance the device is shown attached to a car whereof the frame 1neludes the side sills 20, intermediate sills 21, and center sills 22. These sills are con nected at the end by the usual end sills and the platform is provided with the ord1- nary platform end timber or bufier beam 24. Centrally disposed of the platform 1s a platform floor 25. Supported on this frame is a car body indicated in general by the numeral 26 and in the form shown in Fig. 1 the platform is provided with a vestibule end 27. In the form shown in Fig. 2 the vestibule end is omitted and in place thereof there is indicated the usual end rail 28.

At 29 in Fig. 1 is a door post to which is hinged a door 30 arranged to have its free edge contact with the jamb 31 when the door is closed.

Between one of the side sills 20 and the adjacent intermediate sill 21 is an air reservoir 31 secured in the usual manner by straps 32. Leading into this reservoir is a pipe 33 which communicates with any convenient air pressure pipe of the car so that air may be kept in the reservoir 31 under pressure. Extending from the reservoir 33 is an air pipe 34 which runs up through the car as best seen in Fig. 9 and extends over the lintel of the car door, being branched as at 35. The branches are indicated at 36 and each of these branches communicates with a valve casing 37. Within each of the valve casings 37 is a valve 38 having a D-groove 39 in the bottom thereof and from this valve casing lead supply pipes 40 and 41 and an exhaust pipe '42. The two exhaust pipes 42 are united as at 43 to a common exhaust pipe 44 which is led to any convenient position, as for instance beneath the car. Extending outward from each of the valve casings 37 and having its inner end connected to the valve 38 is a stem 45 provided with a forked end 46 through the fork of which passes a pin 47. This pin 47 extends through a slot 48 formed in the lever 49. The end of this lever is pivoted to a bracket 50 and the arrangement is such that when the lever is in its central position the valve 38 will close both the ports leading to the pipes 40 and 41. while when moved to either end of the casing by the proper movement of the lever 49 this valve will uncover one of the pipes 40 or 41 and put the other pipe in communication with the exhaust pipe 42. pipes 40 and 41 lead respectively into what may be termed the front and back ends of cylinders 51. In each of these cylinders is a piston 52 whereto is attached a rod 53 which carries on its end a rack bar 54. This rack bar is mounted to slide in suitable guides 55 located beneath the platform 25. Each of these racks meshes with a gear 56 carried on a shaft 57 and this shaft also carries a gear 58 which lies immediately below the platform 25. Below the gears 58 is a platform 59 whereon are located certain rails 60. The platforms 59 and 25 are spaced sufficiently far apart to permit the movement therebetween of the stair well closing platforms. These plat-forms each consist of a body portion 61 provided at the inner end with a hinge pintle bar 62 whereto is pivoted a platform cover 63, the latter being hinged to permit the folding back of the cover and access to the working mechanism. On the platform 59 are further located certain rack guides 64 provided with cut-away portions as at 65 to permit the periphery of the gears 58 entering the guide-way of said guides. These guides are also slotted on top as at 66 for purposes These 7 the shaft 57 and gear 58 to rotate and in consequence one of the racks 67 will project laterally of the car, this movement being outward from the center of the car. Each of the racks 67 carries at its outer end a pin 68 which passes through a slot 69 of arcuate form in a bent lever 70 which is pivoted to the platform 61 as at 71. These platforms are provided with suitable slots 72 to permit the movement of the pins 68 above described. The arm of the lever opposite the slot 69 is provided with a pivot 73 to which is connected a link 74 the opposite end of which is in turn connected as at 75 to an S-shaped bar 76 the inner end of which is slotted as at 77. Secured to the platform 59 is a guide pin 78 which passes through the slot 77 and serves to control the movement of the S-shaped bar or lever 76.

Secured to the platform 61 is an arcuate bar 79 having a slot 80 extending therealong and the bar 76 is provided with a pin 81 which moves in this slot. The platform 61 is provided with certain roller wheels indi cated in general at 82 and these wheels rest on the tracks 60 previously described.

Now, if the rack bar 67 be moved outward from the center of the car the parts just described will move from the position shown in full lines to that shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5. It will be noted that the bar 7 6 has it forward end prolonged beyond the bar 79 and is pivoted as at 83 to the door 30 or, in the modification shown in Fig. 2, to a gate 84. bar. 67, which controls the platform in question, begins to move the pin 68 attached thereto must begin to move at the same time. This causes a primary movement to take place which rotates the lever 70 about its pivot or fulcrum 71. As this movement takes place the bar 76 has the end 83 forced around toward the dotted line position by the link 74, the guide bar 79 directing and regulating this movement by means of the pin 81 and slot 80. When the end of the slot 69 contacts with the pin 68 the entire platform 61 will then begin to move since no further movement of the lever 7 0 is possible with relation thereto. Now, were the bar 7 6 rigidly connected to the platform 61 this movement would be rendered impossible, even though this bar might be pivoted. However, by reason of the slot 77 and pin 7 8 the bar 76 is permitted movement with relation to the platform 61 so that as the outward movement of the plat-form continues As soon as the rack the door 30 or gate 84, as the case may be, will be swung farther around on its pivot and the parts will eventually assume the dotted line position of Fig. 5 as above referred to. This acts to close off the steps or step-well and at the same time to shut the door or gate. If it be desired to open the door or gate and withdraw the platform the position of the valve 38 is changed to the opposite end .of its valve casing so that air is admitted to the forward end of the cylinder 51. This retracts the rack 54 and causes the rack 67 to move in the opposite direction. The first result of this movement is, owin to the gate or door being pivoted at the edge opposite its connection with the bar 76, that the platform and gate are drawn directly in. As the free edge of the gate moves over its arcuate path the outer end of the bar 76 will follow the movement of this edge with the result that the various parts will move in exactly the reverse relation to that just described in closing the device.

Secured to the end sill 23 and buffer beam 24 are brackets 85. These brackets have side extensions 86 which form the upper sides of the sets of steps 87 which are so pivoted to the brackets 85 that they may assume either the full or the dotted line position shown in Fig. 3. The platforms 61 each have a downwardly extending apron 88 whereto is pivotally attached one edge of an arcuate resilient plate 89 the other edge of which is attached to the steps as at 90. When the platform is drawn in the arcuate plate and steps will assume the position shown in full lines in Fig. 3 and it is to be observed that when in this position any weight placed upon the steps which would tend to rotate them would also tend to move the pivot point 91 of these steps toward the pivot point 92 of the plate 89. It will thus be seen that it is impossible for the steps to accidentally rotate with persons and permit their falling or otherwise injuring themselves. When the platform is moved outward as previously described the steps will be drawn by the plate 89 to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3 and will thus be held clear of contact with objects located outside of the rails of the track whereon the car is running. It is to be further observed that by reason of the resiliency of the plate 89 when the steps are drawn to the full line position no injury will be done the pivot 91 of the steps by too great pressure being exerted thereon as the plate 89, while of sufiicient strength to hold the steps in proper position, is intended to be resilient enough to prevent injury to the mechanism. This pivot 91 is provided with ball bearings as is the roller 82 which is illustrated in Fig. 11. In each instance the device comprises a pair of similar sections 93 each comprising one-half of the roller cut transversely of its axis. These sections 93 are provided with bores 94: having the inner edges thereof rabbeted as at 95 and when the sections are united the rabbeted portions form a race wherein are held balls 96. The two sections 93 are held together by suitable screws 97 and in the form used for the roller 63 a suitable V-groove 98 is provided for the reception of the track 60.

It is well known that all forms of car door are provided with some sort of a latch bolt and that this is ordinarily of the type used on heavy doors wherein there is a bevel ended spring pressed bolt which is received in a keeper in the door jamb. In order to permit the opening of the door it is necessary that this bolt be drawn or pushed back from its keeper and to this end the pipes 450 are each provided with a branch 99 which leads, in the form shown in Figs. 6 and 7, to a cylinder 100 vertically arranged in a suitable recess in the jamb 31. This cylinder contains a piston 101 whereto is connected a stem 102 which carries at its lower end a plunger 103 provided with a beveled edge 104 which is so arranged as to engage the extreme end of a bolt 105 which forms a lock for the door 30. Now, when the valve 38 is moved to admit air to its pipe 40 air is likewise admitted to the respective pipe 99. This causes air to be forced into the cylinder 100 and the piston 101 to be depressed. The plunger 103 then moves behind the bolt 105 so that the latter is forced out of engagement with the keeper and the door permitted to open through the action of the mechanism previously described. When the air pressure is removed the piston 101 is again forced up by means of a suitable spring 106 held between the piston and the lower end of the cylinder 100 so that the bolt 105 is permitted to latch without restraint.

The form shown in Fig. 8 is very similar to that shown in Figs. 6 and 7 with the ex ception that the cylinder 100 is arranged transversely of the j amb 31 instead of longi-- tudinally thereof. The latter form is to'be preferred whenever the jamb is of sufiicient width to permit its use while the form shown in Figs. 6 and 7 is to be used for narrow jambs. It will be noted from an inspection of Fig. 8 that the keeper is there indicated as at 107 and that this keeper has a beveled end 108 which permits the door to swing open after the bolt has been pushed sufiiciently far out to engage the bevel of the keeper. It will be plain that in the operation of opening the door and the attendant retraction of the platform 61 and placing the steps in operative position, the effect of the air on the door and platform operating mechanism will be prevented until the bolt 105 shall have been pushed back into the There has thus been provided a simple and efficient device of the kind described and for the purpose specified.

It is obvious that minor changes may be made in the form and construction of this invention without departing from the material principles thereof. It is not therefore desired to confine the invention to the exact form herein shown and described, but it is wished to include all such as properly come.

within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described 'the invention, what is claimed as new, is

1. The combination of a car provided with a fixed platform, a sliding platform mounted on said car to slide in and out beneath said fixed platform, a door hinged to the car and connected to the sliding platform, and pneumatically actuated mechanism to operate said platform and door.

2. The combination of a car provided with a fixed platform, a sliding platform mounted on said car to slide in and out beneath the fixed platform, a set of steps pivotally mounted beneath the fixed platform, means operatively connecting the steps and platform, and pneumatically actuated mechanism to operate said platform and thereby move the steps.

3. The combination with. a car provided with a fixed platform; of a sliding platform mounted on said car to slide in and out beneath the fixed platform, an air supply, a valve connected thereto, a cylinder, a piston reciprocable therein, pipes connecting each end of the cylinder with the respective ports of the valve, a piston rod fixed to said piston, and mechanism operatively connecting the piston rod and sliding platform.

4:. The combination with a car; of a sliding platform mounted on said car, a door hinged to said car adjacent the platform, an operative connection between the door and platform, an air supply, a valve connected thereto, a cylinder, a piston reciprocable therein, pipes connecting each end of the cylinder with the respective ports of the valve, a piston rod fixed to said piston, and mechanism operatively connecting the piston rod and sliding platform to move said platform and thereby actuate the door.

operative connection between the door and sliding platform, an air supply, a valve connected thereto, a cylinder, a piston reciprocable therein, pipes connecting each end of the cylinder with the respective ports of the valve, a piston rod fixed to said piston, and mechanism operatively connecting the piston rod and sliding platform to actuate the platform and thereby move the door.

6. The combination with a car provided with a fixed platform, a sliding platform mounted on said car to slide in and out'beneath the fixed platform, a set of steps hung beneath the fixed platform toswing under and out from said platform, an operative connection between said steps and platform, an air supply, a valve connected thereto, a cylinder, a piston reciprocable therein, pipes connecting each end of the cylinder with the respective ports of the valves, a piston rod fixed to said piston, and mechanism operatively connecting the piston rod and sliding platform.

7. The combination with a car having a fixed platform; of asliding platform mounted on said car to slide in and out beneath the fixed platform, a set of steps pivoted to the car to swing bodily in and out beneath the fixed platform, a door hinged to the car to close the sliding platform when the latter is moved fully out, a lock for said door, and means to successively release the lock when the door is'closed and then simultanegusly operate the sliding platform, steps and c oor.

8. The combination with a car having a fixed platform; of a sliding platform mounted on said car to slide in and out beneath the fixed platform, a set of steps pivoted to the car to swing bodily in and out beneath the fixed platform, a door hinged to the car to close the sliding platform when the latter is moved fully out, a lock for said door, and pneumatically actuated mechanism to successively release the lock when the door is closed and then simultaneously operate the sliding platform, steps and door.

9. The combination with a car of the class described; of a fixed platform on said car, a

10. The combination with a car of the class described; of a fixed platform on said 5. The combination with a car provided I car, a sliding platform mounted on the car to slide laterally in and out beneath said fixed platform, brackets depending beneath the fixed platform, a set of steps pivoted to the brackets, an Operative member connecting the steps and sliding platform to swing the former beneath the fixed platform as the sliding platform is slid out from beneath the fixed platform, and pneumatic mechanism to operate said sliding platform.

11. The combination with a car of the class described; of a fixed platform on said car, a sliding platform mounted on the car to slide laterally in and out beneath the fixed platform, a set of steps pivoted to the car to swing bodily in and out beneath the fixed platform, a door for the platforms, and means to operate the sliding platform, steps and door simultaneously.

12. The combination with a car of the class described; of a fixed platform on said car, a sliding platform mounted on the car to slide laterally in and out beneath the fixed platform, a set of steps pivoted to the car to swing bodily in and out beneath the fixed platform, a door for the platforms, and pneumatically actuated mechanism to operate the sliding platform, steps and door.

13. The combination with a car having a fixed platform; of a sliding platform mounted on said car to slide in and out beneath the fixed platform, an air supply, a cylinder mounted on said car, a valve connected to said air supply, pipes connecting opposite ends of said cylinder with respective ports in said valve, a piston reciprocable in said cylinder, a rod connected to the piston, and gearing connecting said piston and the sliding platform, said valve being arranged to admit air to either end of the cylinder and exhaust air from the opposite end.

1 1. The combination with a car having a fixed platform; of a sliding platform mounted on said car to slide in and out beneath the fixed platform, an air supply, a cylinder mounted on said car, a valve connected to said air supply, pipes connecting opposite ends of said cylinder with said valve, a piston reciprocable in said cylinder, a rod connected to said piston, a rack attached to said piston rod, a shaft mounted beneath the fixed platform, gears on said shaft one of which meshes with the rack, a second rack meshing with the other gear, and an operative connection between the second rack and the sliding platform.

15. The combination with a carhaving a fixed platform; of a sliding platform mounted on said car to slide in and out beneath the fixed platform, an air supply, a cylinder mounted on said car, a valve connected to said air supply, pipes connecting opposite ends of said cylinder with said valve, a piston reciprocable in said cylinder, a rod connected to said piston, a rack attached to said piston rod, a shaft mounted beneath the fixed platform, gears on said shaft one of which meshes with the rack, a second rack meshing with the other gear, a door pivoted to swing adjacent the sliding platform, and a lmk mechanism connecting the door, sliding platform and second rack to move said platform and door simultaneously as the rack is moved.

16. The combination of a car having a fixed platform, a sliding platform mounted on the car to slide in and out beneath the fixed platform, a bar mounted beneath the fixed platform to slide in like manner to the sliding platform, a door hinged to the car, a bent lever pivoted between its ends to the platform and provided with an arcuate slot at one end, a pin projecting from the bar and engaging in the slot in the bent lever, a guide bar mounted on the platform, a lever fulcrumed intermediate its ends to slide along said guide bar and having one end pivoted to the door in spaced relation tothe axis of the door hinges and the other end provided with a guide slot, a link connecting said bent lever and the last mentioned lever, a guide pin fixed on said sliding platform to enter the guide slot of the last mentioned lever, and means to move the bar.

17. The combination of a car having a fixed platform, a sliding platform mounted on the car to slide in and out beneath the fixed platform, a bar mounted beneath the fixed platform to slide in like manner to the sliding platform, a door hinged to the car, a bent lever pivoted between its ends to the platform and provided with an arcuate slot at one end, a pin projecting from the bar and engaging in the slot in the bent lever, a guide bar mounted on the platform, a lever fulcrumed intermediate its ends to slide along said guide bar and having one end pivoted to the door in spaced relation to the axis of the door hinges and the other end provided with a guide slot, a link connecting said bent lever and the last mentioned lever, a guide pin fixed on sa1d sliding platform to enter the guide slot of the last mentioned lever, andpneumatically actuated mechanism to move the bar.

18. The combination of a car having a fixed platform, a sliding platform mounted on the car to slide in and out beneath the fixed platform, a bar mounted beneath the fixed platform to slide in like manner to the sliding platform, a door hinged to the car, a bent lever pivoted between its ends to the platform and provided with an arcuate slot at one end, a pin projecting from the bar and engaging in the slot in the bent lever, a guide bar mounted on the platform, a lever fulcrumed intermediate its ends to slide along said guide bar and having one end pivoted to the door in spaced relation to the axis of the door hinges and the other end provided with a guide slot, a link connecting said bent lever and the last mentioned lever, a guide pin fixed on said sliding platform to enter the guide slot of the last- 1nentioned lever, an air supply, a valve con nected to said air supply, pipes connecting opposite ends of said cylinder with said valve, a piston reciprocable in said cylinder, a rod connected thereto, and gearing connecting said piston and the first mentioned bar, said valve'being arranged to admit air to either end of the cylinder and exhaust air from the opposite end.

19. The combination of a car having a fixed platform, a sliding platform mounted on the car to slide in and out beneath the fixed platform, a sliding platform mounted fixed platform to slide in like manner to the sliding platform, a door hinged to the car, a bent lever pivoted between its ends to the platform and provided with an arcuate slot at one end, a pin projecting from the bar and engaging in the slot in the bent lever, a guide bar mounted on the platform, a lever fulcrumed intermediate its ends to slide along said guide bar and having one end pivoted to the door in spaced relation to the axis of the door hinges and the other end provided with a guide slot, a link connecting said bent lever and the last mentioned lever, a guide pin fixed on said sliding platform to enter the guide slot of the last mentioned lever, an air supply, a valve connected to said air supply, pipes connecting opposite ends of said cylinder with said valve, a piston reciprocable in said cylinder, a rod connected thereto, a rack attached to said piston rod, a shaft mounted beneath the fixed platform, gears on said shaft one of ease 20. The combination of a car having a fixed platform, a sliding platform mounted on the car to slide in and out beneath the fixed platform, a bar mounted beneath the fixed platform to slide in like manner to the sliding platform, a door hinged to the car, a bent lever pivoted between its ends 'to the platform and provided with an arcuate slot at one end, a pin projecting from the bar and engaging in the slot in the bent lever, a guide bar mounted on the platform, a lever fulcrumed intermediate its ends to slide along said guide bar and having one end pivoted to the door in spaced relation to the axis of the door hinges and the other end provided with a guide slot,

a link connecting said bent lever and the last mentioned lever, a guide pin fixed on said sliding platform to enter the guide slot of the last mentioned lever, an air supply, a valve connected to said air supply, pipes connecting opposite ends of said cylinder with said valve, a piston reciprocable in said cylinder, a rod connected thereto, a rack attached to said piston rod, a shaft mounted beneath the fixed platform, gears on said shaft one of which meshes with the rack, a second rack formed on the first mentioned bar and meshing with the other gear, said valve being arranged to admit air to either end of the cylinder and exhaust air from the opposite end, a pair of depending brackets mounted beneath the fixed platform, a set of steps pivotally connected to the lower.

end of said brackets, and a curved resilient plate connecting the upper end of said steps and the outer edge of the slidin platform.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signawhich meshes with the rack, and a second i ture, in presence of two witnesses.

rack formed on the first mentioned bar and meshing with the other gear, said valve being arranged to admit air to either end of the cylinder and exhaust air from the opposite end.

CHARLES WV. RAGLAND.

Witnesses:

M. T. MILLER, GEO. H. CHANDLEE. 

